Army Medic 68w

[doctorita]

Hello!

I need help! I am prior service (Army) and I want to get back to the service but I am not quite sure if I should go for National Guard or Army Reserves...Also I haven't decide if I should go for 68W (Health care specialist).

For what I understand, the Army NG has more money for college because is federal and state funded. Now if this is true it will be great so I can pay for my school and become a nurse just like I planned.

My goal is to become a nurse. I am attending to college right now, but I cannot afford it...why? because when I was in the military I was from the state of NJ and now I am in NC and the college consider me as out-state student, I registered for classes and my bill came up to $4000...crazy haaa!! , so this is why I am joining the Army. I also applied for Finacial help but they can't help me!!

I know is a big decision that I have to make but sometimes we need a second opinion right?

PLEASE guys help me out with this....NG or Reserves????

Thank you so much!!!!

Doctorita

[cscott1]

Doctorita,

As a former Navy medic (Viet Nam type) and a retired Army nurse, I will tell you that its 50/50. Either the Reserves or the NG stand a good chance of deployment in today's military environment.

The NGs are theoreticaly under the control of each state governer until they are federally acitvated, which seem to happen quite often these days. I don't know that the NG has any more money for schools than the Reserve. I do know that most branches will send qualified active duty members to school.

Hope this helps.

cscott1

[lela186]

Im in the Reserves, my husband in a Guard recruiter! I can say that I think the Guard does tend to get more money then at least what I got as a Reservist. I guess it just depends on what each branch tells you they can offer. Make sure you talk to recruiters from both and do online research as well before making your decision.

[TiredMD]

Why not just take the Nurse Corps scholarship and then get commissioned directly?

[puggy232]

Have you talked to the ROTC rep at your school? Also are you using your GI bill? The amount is due to increase-with an additional $1000.00 month for living cost next year in June I believe if you served after 9/11 at least 24 months-I think is the requirement. Not much but better than nothing-my husband was a ROTC instructor at the university level. The students he had were doing quite well, as they had their scholarships, some were enlisted reserve so they got paid a higher stipend for ROTC, some did get deployed as they were on active reserve duty. Maybe you can change state residency to lower tuition cost, or student loans then go active-best to get whatever education you want and have uncle sam paid your student loans, because once you're in you're in the needs of the ARMY first and foremost. Good luck.